60 ‘deer poachers’ held in Sundarbans

Forest Department officials detained 60 suspected deer poachers while entering the Sundarbans with hunting equipment in three trawlers in Joymoni area of Chandpai Range early Tuesday.

Tipped off that a group of deer poachers were entering the Sundarbans ahead of ‘Rash Mela’, forest guards conducted a drive in the area and detained the 60 poachers, said Md Mahmudul Hasan, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Sundarbans East Zone.

Three trawlers, deer hunting traps, locally-made weapons and stoves were also seized, Hasan said adding that all of them were confined to Sundarbans Chandpai Range office.

Legal action will be taken against them, he said.